Pure Horserace: It's All In The Timing
Timing is everything in politics and recently, Rudy Giuliani's hasn't been the best.
Having spent several days touring the South last week, the former New York City mayor raised some eyebrows with his refusal to take a stand on issues ranging from the Confederate flag to state apologies for slavery, saying those were issues for individual states to decide.
Giuliani has had similar answers on gun control as well, claiming his past support for restrictions worked in a big city but may not fit other areas of the country. Lat weekend in Iowa, however, Giuliani took a firmer stand on social issues where he differs with many of his party's primary voters, especially on the issue of abortion.
According to the Des Moines Register, Giuliani warned activists that any litmus tests on social issues could lead to defeat for the party in 2008, particularly when it comes to abortion, about which Giuliani reportedly said, "our party has to get beyond issues like that."
Giuliani is selling himself as a strong leader on issues such as national security and fiscal responsibility and, above all, a candidate who has proven himself in a crisis. It's an image that has landed him atop the GOP field but it's also what makes his non-responsive answers to issues like the Confederate flag all the more harmful to that image.
So when Giuliani wags his finger at the party on abortion, he refreshes the image of strength. What, after all, is a more politically courageous stand to take in the midst of a Republican primary campaign? Unfortunately for him, today's Supreme Court ruling could end up turning this perceived strength into a weakness.
In a 5-4 decision, the court upheld a federal ban on a certain abortion procedure, what a 2003 law calls partial-birth abortion. Many Republican activists are certain to greet this news with jubilation and a validation of a strategy aimed at putting more restrictions on abortion, if not eventually overturning Roe v. Wade altogether. Part of that strategy was helping to elect a president who would put conservative justices on the court. Both of Bush's Supreme Court selections voted to uphold the ban.
Nothing emboldens political movements quite like success and this ruling qualifies for conservatives. It may also minimize Giuliani's pleas to "get beyond" the issue. Today, Giuliani applauded the Court's decision, saying "the Supreme Court reached the correct conclusion in upholding the congressional ban on partial birth abortion. I agree with it."
And Giuliani has spoken of picking "constructionist" judicial nominees (read, conservative). But he remains pro-choice in his personal views and this decision may bring more attention to that position. At the very least, it's unlikely to make activists any more receptive to further lectures on the subject.
At Least It's Not On YouTube: Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson has been seeking the GOP nomination for weeks, but he's flown well under the media radar since announcing his bid. This week, he finally got some publicity — of the worst kind.
On Monday, while speaking before the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in Washington, Thompson said "I'm in the private sector, and for the first time in my life I'm earning money. You know, that's sort of part of the Jewish tradition, and I do not find anything wrong with that."
Perhaps only making the situation worse, Thompson tried to explain his remarks by saying, "what I was referring to, ladies and gentlemen, is the accomplishments of the Jewish religion. You've been outstanding business people, and I compliment you for that."
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel quickly tore into Thompson in an editorial, calling on him to immediately end his presidential bid. The editorial said Thompson's remarks "revealed him simply to be ill-suited to the presidency."
On Tuesday, Thompson told The Politico that a cold and fatigue were to blame for the remarks. Not what a candidate trying to get into the mix needs at this point. Just ask Joe Biden.
Also Available For Bar Mitzvahs, Weddings: Getting a current or former president to show up for an event is usually a long-shot. They're busy men with little time on their hands. But recent additions to the schedules of President Bush and former President Clinton show that you too might be able to score a visit from a member of this exclusive club.
Clinton, according to a Bloomberg report, will speak at commencement ceremonies on six college campuses this spring, three times his recent annual average. One of those schools is the University of New Hampshire, the largest school in the state that will hold the country's first primary in 2008 — one his wife would like to win.
As for President Bush, tomorrow he's scheduled to speak at Tippecanoe High School in Tipp City, Ohio, to businessmen and students, The Associated Press reports. How did this town of less than 10,000 people persuade the president to visit? They faxed him. Steve Bruns, a contractor and former head of the Tipp City Area Chamber of Commerce, sent in the request two weeks ago and, surprisingly, it was accepted.
Editor's Note: Pure Horserace is a daily update of political news as interpreted by the political observers at CBSNews.com. Click here to sign up for the e-mail version.
By Vaughn Ververs and David Miller